Beretta BRX1 - Affordable Blaser R8 ?

[bdb.hunting]

Alright,

So similar to many of you I have been watching updates from ShotShow seeing how I wasn't able to go (maybe next year.) As noted I really like the Blaser R8 and have wanted one for some time now but due to funds its always out of reach. I want it for the ultimate switch-barrel rifle which if you have seen my post I am a fan of. Particularly in a Tikka platform as I am not limited to either Short action or Long action cartridges and can swap back and forth fairly quickly (once its all setup correctly)

Tikka is also super easy to get in left hand. In come the straight pull R8 that also is very easy to setup in left hand.

In comes the Beretta BRX1. Straight pull action that is easy to swap left to right and can also swap brass ejection left to right. Which is important. I haven't seen to many videos but it looks like they have been around for a little bit just not in the American market. I also see a few shops here in Canada carry them. One being local to me and tempting to go see if I can handle one.

They talk about swapping barrels with ease but I don't seem many barrels on the market just yet and who knows if they will allow aftermarket barrels anytime soon.

Just wondering what others thoughts are ? I know straight pulls aren't the biggest thing on this continent but a few people own them and love them.

Has anyone in Canada hunted with one yet and how do you feel about it ?

If they are trying to get into the same game that Blaser has owned for years this could be an affordable option in Canada. The rifle currently sells for right around 2k which isnt bad for a rifle like this so long as it holds the quality I am seeing in videos.

Cheers,
B

 

[kayaker1]

The reviews so far seem very favourable. I wonder how much barrels will be and if there will be a .378” .223 bolt head? I am sceptical of the cantilever style scope mount but no review has mentioned that as an issue.

 

[bdb.hunting]

The reviews so far seem very favourable. I wonder how much barrels will be and if there will be a .378” .223 bolt head? I am sceptical of the cantilever style scope mount but no review has mentioned that as an issue.

Yeah I do prefer the mount that Blaser uses for their scopes but I think its a wait and see game with the cantilever rail.

I think it would make sense to offer it in .223 as well as other options for the bolt head. The talk of straight pulls being a replacement "repeater" rifle is interesting as well and would be nice in .223.

B

 

[bearkilr]

Straight pull action that is easy to swap left to right and can also swap brass ejection left to right. Which is important.

I don't see how either feature is important. I'm right handed and have never longed for a lefty rifle, and I'm sure the southpaws feel the same. As for ejection, I guess you could have it so it ejects shells out of your truck window instead of into the cab.

I have a couple of R93's and they're well made guns, this one looks like a cheap copy with a lot of additional unnecessary parts. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on the EE and find a good,used R93 Professional. They pop up from time to time for not a whole lot more than this Blaretta.

 

[bdb.hunting]

I don't see how either feature is important. I'm right handed and have never longed for a lefty rifle, and I'm sure the southpaws feel the same. As for ejection, I guess you could have it so it ejects shells out of your truck window instead of into the cab.

I have a couple of R93's and they're well made guns, this one looks like a cheap copy with a lot of additional unnecessary parts. My suggestion would be to keep an eye on the EE and find a good,used R93 Professional. They pop up from time to time for not a whole lot more than this Blaretta.

O I agree it’s a cheaper copy I’m just interested to see where it goes! I like the swap feature for the simple fact of I shoot left and most of my friends and family shoot right so being able to swap quick means I can loan the rifle out if someone needs one or needed to make a shot on a hunt and had an issue with their firearm.

The only reason I have bought an R93 (I’ve seen a few pop up in the 3k range) is simply a cartridge barrel thing for me, the R8 has factory barrels for cartridges I reload for and shoot or want to reload for and shoot one day but the R93 doesn’t so I’d have to get custom barrels at that point.

Just me being picky really. I feel like Beretta would be foolish not to add a bunch of modern cartridges to the line up just like Blaser is doing with the R8.

I also think this is a much better version than the savage straight pull rifle.

That said why cartridges do you have for the R93? Do you run it as a switch barrel or have a couple full rifles ?

Cheers,
B

 

[duncansuds]

It’s the smoothest rifle I’ve ever handled. Had not just stepped into a new one this year,,, I’d be aiming for one. They are just awesome to rack, straight back, no sight wander. Would be so much fun to run, in my opinion more interactive than a semi, and leaves virtually all sloppiness out of the physical action.

If it’s half as accurate as it is cool, it’s going to shatter the impulse (rightfully so…it sucks) and give many bolts like the Bautte, BlackBear and the like a real run for their money. ,

I can’t wait to shoot one…. But I’ve got to at least develope load for the one on the go first.

 

[nowarningshot]

Passed on a Baser r93 years ago in 7rm and 338wm. Still regret it.

I believe Jim Harmer, backfire on YouTube did a recent video on the Beretta. Found it interesting, imagine it will depend on if the platform is properly tested/debugged, and price point. Bad fit n finish, and worry of mouth really hurt the freedom group REM Marlin rifles, for an example. Blasers with a couple barrels can easily be $10k, so price point could be rather high, yet still seem cheap in comparison.

 

[owlowl]

It’s the smoothest rifle I’ve ever handled. Had not just stepped into a new one this year,,, I’d be aiming for one. They are just awesome to rack, straight back, no sight wander. Would be so much fun to run, in my opinion more interactive than a semi, and leaves virtually all sloppiness out of the physical action.

If it’s half as accurate as it is cool, it’s going to shatter the impulse (rightfully so…it sucks) and give many bolts like the Bautte, BlackBear and the like a real run for their money. ,

I can’t wait to shoot one…. But I’ve got to at least develope load for the one on the go first.

Have you cycled it with actual ammo? It looks likes a lot of places to wiggle to me:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-vJ4BsgHzCc

The hanging pic rail also kinda suspicions looking.

 

[track]

The Beretta BRX1 is most affordable, it cost much less than a Blaser R8 barrels alone. To question a Blaser R8 afforadable, is an oxymoron. I owned 3 Blasers in the past and lost that buzz of owning something unique, then returned back to turnbolts. I don't approve of the cocking-safety mechanism, mostly the cost of the rifle and their barrels. Recently their prices are beyond insane, for all their rifles.

 

[wallz]

Have you cycled it with actual ammo? It looks likes a lot of places to wiggle to me:



The hanging pic rail also kinda suspicions looking.

I think as long as the scope stays with the barrel it would pose no issues. I think the main point of a swap barrel system is to have it easy, and quick, and have your optics still on the cross hairs without having to adjust the scope or site in the rifle every barrel swap. Hard to find any videos on the barrel removal, but I did find one, and turns out the scope rail/scope stays with the barrel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nn3ssAd8xA

Only other thing I was able to notice is the bolt seems to come back closer to the shooter than the Blaser does.

 

[nowarningshot]

To give a perspective. Time of travel of a bullet, from chamber to leaving the barrel is in the neighbourhood of 1.4 milliseconds. So a straight pull "unlocking" and being closer to your face is relative. Our factory ammo in most calibers is pretty anemic, lawyer proof for liability. All it would take is one failure to destroy Beretta, think Rem 700 triggers.

 

[bearkilr]

That said why cartridges do you have for the R93? Do you run it as a switch barrel or have a couple full rifles ?

Cheers,
B

I currently have two identical R93 Professionals. calibers I have are 257 Wby, 7mm RemMag, 308 Win, and 300 PRC(aftermarket). All have dedicated scopes and QD mounts. I've had a few other calibers in the past that I sold or traded. 22-250, 243,30/06, 338WM,375 H&H

I had bought a used R93 some years ago and then just bought some barrels. MD Charlton had a huge Blaser sale when they dropped the distributorship, I bought another stock/receiver, bolt and carrier and basically had another gun. It was under $2000 for the receiver/stock, bolt and carrier.

One is usually set up in 257 Wby, that's my wolf and coyote gun, and the other in 308 as it's short and light.

 

[bdb.hunting]

I currently have two identical R93 Professionals. calibers I have are 257 Wby, 7mm RemMag, 308 Win, and 300 PRC(aftermarket). All have dedicated scopes and QD mounts. I've had a few other calibers in the past that I sold or traded. 22-250, 243,30/06, 338WM,375 H&H

I had bought a used R93 some years ago and then just bought some barrels. MD Charlton had a huge Blaser sale when they dropped the distributorship, I bought another stock/receiver, bolt and carrier and basically had another gun. It was under $2000 for the receiver/stock, bolt and carrier.

One is usually set up in 257 Wby, that's my wolf and coyote gun, and the other in 308 as it's short and light.

Where did you get the aftermarket barrel for the R93 ? For some reason I thought you could only get the adapters for the R8s.

Clearly someone was in the right place and right time with those deals. Wish I got them haha.

B

 

[bearkilr]

Where did you get the aftermarket barrel for the R93 ? For some reason I thought you could only get the adapters for the R8s.

Clearly someone was in the right place and right time with those deals. Wish I got them haha.

B

I got it from a fellow member here on the EE, but originally it was made by a custom gun and barrel maker, J. Sip and Sons, in Utah. They make a variety of ones for the R93 and R8, generally in chamberings not offered by Blaser.

 

[owlowl]

The locking lugs are straight squares, the gun has no primary extraction. It does not have spring assisted opener like R8. I have a lot of doubt it will cycle smoothly, especially with bad brass and/or weather.

It has problem extracting even clean on a bench:

https://youtu.be/TTFb13J0lzs?t=389

 

[Milt Dale]

i might be interested in a couple of years, after they have seen some service, part of the attraction for me would be a two or three barrel set. I am curious about barrel and bolt head cost, i don't see spare barrels listed anywhere.